Only one team in the Big Ten is winless after Week 1 ... Minnesota

The Wisconsin Badgers did not instill confidence with their uncomfortable 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan on Friday. But the team is 1-0 after one week of action, which is all that technically matters.

We will inevitably spend the next week nitpicking the win and pointing to the team’s faults. I’d argue that activity is necessary with the gauntlet schedule that lies ahead for the Badgers, starting with No. 5 Alabama on Sept. 14.

But I can guarantee that status is better than Minnesota’s. The Gophers fell 19-17 to North Carolina on Thursday, and actually set off fireworks as their kicker missed a game-winning field goal attempt.

P.J. Fleck’s team is not only 0-1 after Week 1, it was the only Big Ten team that lost this weekend. The new-look conference went 17-1, including No. 23 USC‘s impressive win over No. 13 LSU and a handful of decisive nonconference victories.

Every team won except Minnesota, who is officially the first team to be dead-last in the new 18-team conference.

Things do not figure to get much better for the Gophers. Their conference schedule includes No. 25 Iowa, No. 9 Michigan, No. 23 USC, Maryland, Rutgers, No. 8 Penn State and Wisconsin. If the team’s offense looks the way it did against the Tar Heels, Minnesota could miss a bowl game.

We will do more intensive deep-dives into the Big Ten standings once conference play begins. For now, it’s worth highlighting Minnesota’s status as the only 0-1 team in the conference.

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